Need a new backup brain/PDA

[redbird]

I didn't read carefully enough; yes, Win7 supports a version of PalmOS, but that version won't support my m515. And I went ahead and overwrote everything, instead of doing some complicated dual boot system.

I think that leaves me choosing between a smart phone and an Ipad. And running off just the portable for a little while: synching is valuable, but doesn't need to be daily.

Thoughts are welcome. Lighter is better.

Comments

[serene]

iPad is not exactly light, and it's not exactly small, when compared to a PDA. Huge, in fact. If you can easily carry an 8.5x11 spiral notebook around (single-subject thickness), though, I'd say go for it. I do like it a lot, but I wouldn't buy it as a PDA, personally.

[voidampersand]

Were you using Palm Desktop to connect your Palm to your PC? It looks like Palm has been dropping support for older Palm devices from newer versions of Palm Desktop.

http://kb.palm.com/wps/portal/kb/common/article/33529_en.html#windows

Windows 7 has an XP compatibility mode where it actually boots a copy of XP in a virtual machine to run the application. It comes with Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate, but it looks like you might be able to download it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx

If you decide to get a new PDA, the iPod Touch is pocket sized and cheaper than an iPad. You would need to get all new apps. But that would be true if you got an Android or WebOS device, and I don't know how long Palm is going to keep supporting PalmOS devices in the future. You might be able to find a newer PalmOS device pretty cheap.

[finch]

Just for the record, I do have a Palm smartphone, which I bought specifically to replace my old PDA and my old phone, and I do like it.

[evolvedcucumber]

Suggestions: If you end up needing a new PDA, look at ebay. I just got one a few days ago (*reminds self to go comment and review for sam_tech*) and it seems to be working fine. It's a visio? I think? I'm not very tech-savvy.

I upgraded to Win7, and haven't had any issues with anything. I still use Firefox, and Thunderbird.

All of my Microsoft Office seems to work, not that I use it except to view class stuff. AbiWord (my processor of choice) works fine. I was warned that iTunes might not function properly, but have had no issues to that effect (which is good, because I have upwards of a week's worth of files, both music and books, that would have been lost.)

I don't use a lot of different programs in my day-to-day life, and I stopped installing messengers a long time ago (I just use the online versions if I know someone wants to chat), so that's all the info I've got for ya.

But the whole point of this was to try to lighten your stress load, at least a little.

[ellarien]

Oh dear.

Have you considered an iPod Touch? As far as I can make out, it's basically an iPhone without the phone/camera part, and rather more portable than an iPad. A colleague has one that he uses for a lot of the same things I do with my Palm TX.

[timill]

Some questions:
What do you plan to use it for?
Who is your cellphone provider (if any)?
Do you have opinions on OS (Android/Blackberry/WinMo/whatever)?
Size: is the iPad too big?

[janetl.livejournal.com]

I was a dedicated Palm PDA user, and now I adore my iPhone. I believe an Android will give you much the same experience.
I use the iPhone for the things that I used my Palm for*, but others as well. I like being able to use data on the internet instead of just synching to my computer. I do despise it as a cell phone, which is presumably AT&T's fault. My old Verizon LG had much better sound quality.

Things I used my PDA for: Calendar, contact info, password safe, book catalog, reference info, occasional book reading.
Things I use my iPhone for: the above, plus email, maps, reading blogs, Wikipedia, occasional blog posting, and showing friends my pictures on Flickr.
While it's not a full replacement for my camera, I often use the phone to take pictures, edit them, and post them to the Internet.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Z's very happy with his iPhone, which does all the gadget stuff you want plus has internet. Indeed, the only downside I can see is the fact that people can call you on it.